Getting Set Up

Day 2 Turtle Mountain 2010
I am not comfortable in sleeping at Half Can. I don’t know why others really like to. I insisted on sleeping at camp even if it was by myself and unleveled. Loc kindly drove me up the hill so I can set up and sleep at the camp site. I love the sounds of the wind and leaves, a gentle chime of sea breeze waves a kind of lullaby, so beautiful and wonderful, very healing and soothing.  I look forward to this every year.  I have waited all year for this.  I am not going to waste a night skipping out on it.   

Anthony made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. It took a long time because he could only make 1 at a time over the skillet, each one perfect. We didn’t eat breakfast until 10am. It was worth the wait. So we ended up having lunch at 2pm. Chili burrito chips salsa guacamole build it yourself lunch. I also made salad and taquitos. For dinner we had burgers and Indian poori salad.

My experience for the day, everyone worked in harmony. No one yelled, no one was commanding, no top down oppressive structure, no disgruntle stinkers, or poopers unhappy until they spoil everything and everyone. Everyone lent their strength, worked, and worked. I feel joyfully peaceful, fatigued and happy to see all this beauty. Most of all I feel grateful for all of this.

Rolling Off To Annual Turtle Mountain Gathering

Day 1 Turtle Mountain 2010
It’s that time again. It’s Turtle Mountain time! It really is a lot of work each year. But it’s totally fun and I don’t mind it. We all met in Berkeley to load up the van. I was super impressed by Anthony Nguyen’s skills and abilities in organizing the van. I was touched by Loc’s dedication to detail and care, inspired by his unconditional joy in service.

I was sleepy tired. I only had an hour of sleep last night and yet I was the most awake to drive out of the whole car. So I did and others slept. I was not familiar with the timing of a loaded minivan when it came time to break, when a truck towing a trailer without break lights stopped at a one lane section of the highway to make a left turn outside of Ukiah, I had to snake to the left of slow down to brake in time. It was a close call.

I was surprised by Michael’s crush in getting a speeding ticket. Really, he had just been rotated to drive on the CA side of the border on 101 north and had just gotten behind the wheel and it was super difficult part where there was a transition of local and highway section that is not easy to figure out where the exact change in speed limit is. The cop was waiting right there. And there was no speed limit sign anywhere to tell us this section is 55mph. He was clocked at going 68mph. The rest of the car ride from that point on, which was another 4 hours of driving, we joked nonstop to keep the car riders laughing and distract from the weight of worries and the burden of fear. This turned the car ride around from fatigue to comedy central. I had so much fun.

Great America Kidzville

Day 26 Tour Guide

Low Tech, Loads of Strategies

Day 21 Tour Guide
Water balloon fight!

Touring San Francisco

Day 20 Tour Guide
Today's sights to tackle:
Sanford Memorial Church
Fisherman's Wharf
Ghirardelli square
Pier 39

Summer Days Are Full of Fun

Day 19 Tour Guide
Rip Stick + Ball + Dog + shopping + curry =fun

Farms Everywhere

Day 18 Tour Guide
I stayed an extra day in Yosemite and without the family at camp.  It was lovely to hangout a little longer.  The drive back was nice, I like looking at farms.